The collaboration of the public and private sector
is required to combine skills and expertise, technologies and resources to
identify, develop and implement appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures
in the rural sector – this is also to be seen in the context of rural energy
demand and supply. Promoting mitigation and adaptation activities to support
rural development under a collaborative framework with public and private sector
players will require a common understanding on key issues, shared views on
expected outcomes and benefits for all involved stakeholders and related
decision-making and implementation mechanisms.

The working group was created during the Expert Dialogue on
'Investing in Emissions Reduction and Rural Development' which took place in
Rome on 14 November 2007 in conjunction with the World Energy Conference (11-15
November). This working group functions as a communication platform between the
private and public sectors with a view to identifying, developing and
implementing concrete climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in the
agricultural, rural and land use sectors, stemming from the mutual interests of
certain public and private sector actors in investing in emissions reduction and
rural development. The working group consists of the participants of the expert
dialogue in November 2007, including representatives of the Rome-based UN
agencies and institutions, members of selected private sector companies and the
European Investment Bank.

The 1st Meeting of the Public-Private Sector Working Group was held in Rome on the 26th
March 2008 at FAO headquarters, just before a private sector stakeholder
consultation (27-28 March 2008) in preparation of the High-Level Conference on
World Food Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy at FAO
in June.

The group reiterated the outcomes of the expert dialogue in
November 2007, particularly stressing the willingness from the private sector to
contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation through financial
resources, technologies and other means which was clearly expressed during the
Expert Dialogue in November. What became apparent is the lack of underlying
technical expertise related to mitigation and adaptation in the concerned
sectors and very often the lack of local presence in the field, which could be
provided by UN agencies. The need for a facility to bring actors from the two
sectors together to promote mitigation and adaptation activities in the
agricultural, rural and land use sectors at large scale was re-confirmed.

Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United NationsThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and
developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet
as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy.

CarbonReCarbonRe AG
specializes in insurance products and risk management techniques catering
for the entire risk spectrum of the carbon risk landscape within the
contextof the CDM and JI flexible mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol
Agreements.

EcoSecuritiesEcoSecurities played a groundbreaking role in the development of
the market infrastructure, assisting governments and international
agencies in market design and helping global corporationsprepare for a
carbon constrained world.

EcoMethaneEcoMethane is an integrated project development group dedicated to
financing, constructing and operating projects that harness methane
emissions from landfills and coal mines to provide sustainable power
solutions.

European Investment BankThe task of the
European Investment Bank, the European Union's financing institution, is
to contribute towards the integration, balanced development and economic
and social cohesion of the Member Countries.

International Fund for
Agricultural DevelopmentThe International Fund for Agricultural Development,a specialized
agency of the United Nations, was established as an international
financial institutionin 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974
World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in
developing countries.

Japan Carbon
FinanceJapan Carbon
Finance is a company that uses the funds from Japan Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund to develop greenhouse gas reduction projects and to
purchase CERs/ERUs credits for the first commitment period, between 2008
and 2012.

The Global MechanismThe Global Mechanism provides a range of specialized financial
advisory services to the Parties, with the aim of increasing development
finance for poverty reduction by promoting sustainable land
management.

World Food
ProgrammeThe World Food
Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's
largest humanitarian agency. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million
people per year, 58 million of whom are children. WFP works to help people
who are unable to produce or obtain enough food for themselves and their
families.